The Irish fresh produce industry has lost its second minister in less than a year in the political turmoil that has forced the Republic’s government to the edge of collapse as FPJ went to press.
And there is no guarantee that after the election next month, when a new coalition of Fine Gael and Labour is expected to take office, that the sector will still be given a separate ministry.
A climate change bill introduced by the outgoing government, which would have imposed “much tougher” limits on greenhouse gas emissions, significantly increasing growers’ production costs, has now been abandoned.
Farm organisations had warned that the legislation, if enacted, would cripple all sectors of Irish agriculture. One source said: “The appointment of a separate minister for horticulture and food after the last election in 2007 galvanised the industry, mainly because of the man chosen and the obvious enthusiasm he brought to the post. Trevor Sargent, a former Green Party leader and committed environmentalist, described it as his ‘ideal job’ and so it was.
“He introduced legislation to strengthen farmers’ markets as alternative outlets for fresh produce and introduced new grants and structures to promote organic farming. His aim was to have five per cent of farmland in organic production by next year, when he was due to leave office.”
However, interference in a prosecution case against a constituent forced Sargent’s resignation last year.
His successor, Ciaran Cuffe, another Green Party member, was accused of having “a more detached style” and angered some growers by dismissing their complaints over the introduction of a carbon tax.
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